Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has applied for a U.S. visa so that he may attend U.N. meetings later this month according to State Department officials.

Because he is visiting the U.N. for meetings in late September, the application is being processed with the "U.N. Headquarters Agreement" in consideration, which allows for visits for government officials who want to visit the U.N. in New York.

I say let him come. He can then take the world stage and let the rest of the world render their decision about him. Hell, let him visit ground zero too.

Why not? We let all kinds of people into the U.S. to spout their rhetoric.

One of the great problems with the UN being located in NY City is that we have to let even the worst political leaders in the world into the city to speak at the UN at these general meetings. The location of the UN has a lot to do with the donation of the land and post-WWII politics. It would have been a lot better for it's HQ in Switzerland, as some of it's agencies are.
From news stories earlier this week, Ahmadinejad plans to speak on Sept. 19th, the same day but a number of hours apart from President Bush. The security will super stupid that day, along with huge protest crowds against Bush he will never see, but I hope huge ones too protesting Ahmadinejad he may very well seen. I suspect many pro-Israel and Jewish protesters will be there to bash Ahmadinejad and their should be.

Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 4):One of the great problems with the UN being located in NY City is that we have to let even the worst political leaders in the world into the city to speak at the UN at these general meetings. The location of the UN has a lot to do with the donation of the land and post-WWII politics. It would have been a lot better for it's HQ in Switzerland, as some of it's agencies are.

That's the trouble with freedom of expression - everybody gets it. NYC and the US should be proud of their successful hosting of the U.N. It lends NYC a stature that being a mere national capital would never offer, and confirms NYC as a truly global city, and not just a financial hub.

Some of his speaches are worth watching, if you have never actually seen him speak. I have watched a few and my opinions are:
1) He is much better speaker than the press that I have seen gives him credit
2) In general his arguments seem to be well thought out (from his point of view).
3) IMO he is very skilled at reaching the audience that is important to him
4) He seems much more intelligent than he is generally given credit for
5) He reminds me of President Bush in a wierd sort of way, perhaps in the way that he comes off as not really caring what his opponents think.
6) I suspect that he would win any debate with President Bush, in the opinion of the audience that he cares about
7) He is much scarier to me than he would be if he came off as the drooling madman that the western press protrays him as....

Other than that, we should absolutely let him speak to the UN. That is what it is there for.

The same for anyone applying for a visa of this type. It's amazing how people get so worked up over something so simple and mundane.

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 5):NYC and the US should be proud of their successful hosting of the U.N. It lends NYC a stature that being a mere national capital would never offer, and confirms NYC as a truly global city, and not just a financial hub.

Quoting Clipperhawaii (Thread starter):
I say let him come. He can then take the world stage and let the rest of the world render their decision about him. Hell, let him visit ground zero too.

Would be good PR for the US and Iran can finally talk about this on the world stage. Let him come, and lock the doors so Israel can't walk out (I HATE when countries walk out because an ambassador said something they didn't like. Rebuke them if you don't like it)

Quoting LHMARK (Reply 6):Besides, who knows? Maybe he'll warm to the place and decide we're not so bad after all.

Now that would take a miracle, but we'll see.

Quoting Pbottenb (Reply 7):1) He is much better speaker than the press that I have seen gives him credit
2) In general his arguments seem to be well thought out (from his point of view).
3) IMO he is very skilled at reaching the audience that is important to him
4) He seems much more intelligent than he is generally given credit for
5) He reminds me of President Bush in a wierd sort of way, perhaps in the way that he comes off as not really caring what his opponents think.
6) I suspect that he would win any debate with President Bush, in the opinion of the audience that he cares about

And quite frankly, that's what scares the sh!t out of me with him and Chavez. They are so good at public speeking that they can motivate a crowd to jump off a cliff...

Well I believe it all is coming to an end. Oh well, I guess we are gonna pretend.

Quoting Pbottenb (Reply 7):5) He reminds me of President Bush in a wierd sort of way, perhaps in the way that he comes off as not really caring what his opponents think.
6) I suspect that he would win any debate with President Bush, in the opinion of the audience that he cares about
7) He is much scarier to me than he would be if he came off as the drooling madman that the western press protrays him as....

And it is not that he himself is super-duper, it's that Bush is not very intelligent.

Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 4):I suspect many pro-Israel and Jewish protesters will be there to bash Ahmadinejad and their should be.

I agree, but I resen the term "bash". They wouldn't be there to "bash", they would be there to excercise their rights of peaceful legitimate protest. This wouldn't bashing, which implies that they're just saying mean childish things about the man.

Quoting Piercey (Reply 10):Let him come, and lock the doors so Israel can't walk out (I HATE when countries walk out because an ambassador said something they didn't like. Rebuke them if you don't like it)

Oh I see how it goes. Freedom of speech, but no freedom to ignore? You will force somebody to listen? No freedom there huh...

Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 4):One of the great problems with the UN being located in NY City is that we have to let even the worst political leaders in the world into the city to speak at the UN at these general meetings

One of the great problems is George Bush doesn't even need permisson to go to the UN.

Quoting JGPH1A (Reply 5):Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 4):
One of the great problems with the UN being located in NY City is that we have to let even the worst political leaders in the world into the city to speak at the UN at these general meetings. The location of the UN has a lot to do with the donation of the land and post-WWII politics. It would have been a lot better for it's HQ in Switzerland, as some of it's agencies are.

That's the trouble with freedom of expression - everybody gets it. NYC and the US should be proud of their successful hosting of the U.N. It lends NYC a stature that being a mere national capital would never offer, and confirms NYC as a truly global city, and not just a financial hub.

Quoting Piercey (Reply 10):And quite frankly, that's what scares the sh!t out of me with him and Chavez. They are so good at public speeking that they can motivate a crowd to jump off a cliff...

Hitler was the same way. Dictators generally have a way with public speaking.

Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 4):The security will super stupid that day, along with huge protest crowds against Bush he will never see, but I hope huge ones too protesting Ahmadinejad he may very well seen.

How much would you like to bet that the protests over Bush will be greater than the protests over Ahmadinejad? As though Bush was some sort of greater threat.

If that's the case, foreigners and enemies of the U.S. will just eat it up. All we will be left with is "Ooohh lookie how great our society is, we can protest our own leaders" and then feel good about ourselves. All that while our enemies rage with glee.

Don't get me wrong, protesting is fine, but there is an appropriate time for it. Not while one of the worlds most dangerous and twisted leaders (that's Ahmadinejahd for you smart asses) is in this country spouting his insane and dangerous rhetoric saying "you see, even Americans hate your leaders", as he smirks with glee.

Enjoy the right of protesting, protest against the foul statements and angry rhetoric from this crazy leader from Iran.

Hmmm, I wonder if he will bring a shoe to bang on the podium?

"You Can't Beat The Experience"

25 ME AVN FAN
: 25 miles ? less than 25 miles north of here is Germany, AND what is 25 miles east of New York ?

26 ME AVN FAN
: well, simply tell them to get out of the USA. They would be welcome in other places like Geneva, Zurich, Milano, Cairo, Alexandria, Beirut, etc .

27 Clipperhawaii
: The problem with leaving is that the U.N. won't. They like being in New York and all the city and this country have to offer.